The Best of Scotland

In the hotel dining room.

Orientation: 5:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. This program is staffed with both a Group Leader, who will accompany us throughout the program and deal primarily with logistics, and a Study Leader who will lecture, conduct field trips, and serve as an information resource on program-related topics. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

In the hotel dining room.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

At the hotel, our Study Leader will deliver a lecture introducing us to Scotland’s fascinating history. After the lecture, we’ll board a motorcoach for an exploration of central Glasgow with informative commentary by our Study Leader, seeing highlights including Glasgow Cathedral, George Square, and architecture designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. We’ll complete our exploration at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, home to an extensive collection of art and antiquities including works by Rembrandt, Renoir, and Van Gogh, and a gallery focused on Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style. After an introduction by our Study Leader, we’ll have some time to explore Kelvingrove at our own pace.

At the Kelvingrove Museum Café.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll board a motorcoach for a field trip to Robert Adam’s masterpiece, Culzean Castle. Dwight D. Eisenhower was given use of an apartment on this 600-acre coastal estate in South Ayrshire in recognition of his connection to this grateful nation. Culzean (pronounced Cull-ain) was the principal seat of Clan Kennedy, one of Scotland’s oldest families, who can trace their ancestry back to Robert Bruce. Our Study Leader will introduce us to the estate’s history aboard the motorcoach, and once we reach the castle we’ll have some time to explore independently.

On your own to enjoy what you like at Culzean Castle.

Our field trip continues to Alloway, the birthplace of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. After an introduction to Alloway and Burns by our Study Leader, we will have time to explore the life and times of this Scottish icon — from his birth to his recognition as a leading writer of his time — at Burns Cottage and the nearby Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. We will return to the hotel by motorcoach after our field trip.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll begin our transfer to Oban by motorcoach via iconic Inveraray Castle, home to the Duke of Argyll, Chief of Clan Campbell. Located on 16 acres of parkland, the castle was built in the 18th century and has been home to each successive Duke of Argyll. We will explore the castle and have time to take a stroll through the formal gardens before we continue with our transfer.

On your own to enjoy what you like in Inveraray.

We will then travel on into the Highlands with a scenic motorcoach drive along the shores of Loch Lomond. Our transfer will continue to the banks of the aptly named Loch Awe, where we’ll go on a docent-led visit to St Conan's Kirk, an enchanting and relatively undiscovered Victorian church. An unconventionally lavish structure, it holds hidden surprises around every corner. We will arrive at the hotel in Oban in the late afternoon and check in.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll board a motorcoach and begin a full-day field trip to the Isles of Mull and Iona by riding to Oban’s ferry terminal, a short distance from the hotel. We’ll board a local ferry to cross the Sound of Mull, with splendid Hebridean views from the ship’s decks and observation lounge. After stepping ashore at Craignure on Mull’s west coast, we will board a motorcoach to cross the island. Our Study Leader will inform us about Mull’s history and wildlife as we ride through beautiful heath and forest landscapes to the shore of Loch Scridain, then follow the coast road along the Ross of Mull — the peninsula that forms the south-east of the island. From Fionnphort, a small fishing village at the tip of the Ross of Mull, we will make the 1-mile crossing on the foot-passenger ferry to Iona.

At a charming hotel on Iona.

We'll explore the ethereal Isle of Iona – a place where they say “the veil is thin.” Iona was a center of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. We’ll explore Iona’s main settlement, Baile Mòr, on foot with our Study Leader. Our walk will take us to Iona Abbey, an important pilgrimage site founded by St Columba in the 6th century, and to the remains of the medieval Iona nunnery. The serenity of the island is in stark contrast to its tumultuous history; Iona was subjected to numerous Viking raids in the 8th and 9th centuries, the most brutal of which is reflected in the name of Martyrs’ Bay to the south of Baile Mòr. St Martin’s Cross, a stone Celtic cross that dates to this period, still stands outside the abbey today. We'll return to Fionnphort on the foot-passenger ferry and board the motorcoach for the journey back to Craignure, then return by ferry from Craignure to Oban.

On your own to enjoy what you like.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board a motorcoach to explore the area around Fort William. As we ride along the shore of Loch Linnhe — the 30-mile sea loch with Fort William at its head — we’ll pass the 15th-century Castle Stalker on a small tidal island offshore. This rugged countryside was the setting for Robert Louis Stevenson’s celebrated novel “Kidnapped,” and we’ll learn more about the tumultuous 18th-century conflicts that inspired the novel from our Study Leader aboard the motorcoach. We’ll then pass Fort William and ride a few miles west to Glenfinnan, from where we’ll take a private boat ride on Loch Shiel. The loch is one of Scotland’s most historically significant and unspoiled natural treasures, and its 18-mile length is only accessible by boat. It commands wonderful views of the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct.

At a nearby restaurant.

A 60-foot stone monument at Glenfinnan commemorates the beginning of the 1745 Jacobite Rising here, when Bonnie Prince Charlie claimed the thrones of Scotland and England in the name of his father James Stuart. As we admire the verdant highland landscape, our Study Leader will explain the historical context and significance of this Jacobite Rising in detail. We’ll also have some time to explore the visitor center at our own pace. We’ll return to Fort William by motorcoach in the late afternoon, and check in at our hotel with some time to relax and settle in to our rooms before dinner.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will visit the Ben Nevis Whisky Distillery for in depth look at the process of distilling Scotland's most famous export We will return to Fort William by motorcoach, and then board the West Highland Line train to Crianlarich via Rannoch Moor. The ride is considered the most scenic railway line in Britain and was voted the top railway journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009. We’ll board a motorcoach in Crianlarich and ride to Tyndrum. This small village on the edge of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs national park is an important stop on the West Highland Way, popular with hikers.

At a restaurant in Tyndrum.

Our field trip continues by motorcoach through Glencoe. The spectacular and, at times, grim glen features high mountain peaks, ridges, rushing rivers and waterfalls and site of the 1692 massacre in the aftermath of a Jacobite Uprising. At the National Trust for Scotland’s visitor center, we will learn more of the dark and turbulent history of the area. A viewing platform gives photographic views of the area created by millions of years of geological processes. We will then return to the hotel.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer to Dingwall in the morning.

At the hotel.

After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board a motorcoach to begin our transfer to Dingwall at the far end of the Caledonian Canal, taking a detour to explore the misty Isle of Skye. We’ll begin by riding alongside Loch Lochy and the tree-lined stretch of canal known as Laggan Avenue, with commentary from our Study Leader explaining the history and significance of the canal —Thomas Telford’s engineering marvel, constructed between 1804 and 1822. At Invergarry, we’ll leave the canal route and head northwest towards Skye, making a brief stop at the meeting point of three sea lochs—Loch Alsh, Loch Long, and Loch Duich—where the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle stands on a tidal island. We’ll proceed from Eilean Donan to Skye, crossing the iconic Skye Bridge, then follow the coast road to Portree beneath rugged, haunting foothills with views of the Cuillins, the most spectacular mountains in the Highlands. Our Study Leader will provide enlightening commentary throughout the journey, and once we reach Portree, we’ll have some time to explore this charming harbor town, Skye’s capital, at our own pace.

We’ll have vouchers allowing us to choose food and drinks from a range of eateries in Portree.

We’ll regroup in Portree to board the motorcoach and return to the mainland across the Skye bridge, rejoining the Caledonian canal route at Invermoriston on the northern shore of Loch Ness. We’ll continue alongside Loch Ness, and complete our transfer to Inverness to check in to our hotel in the late afternoon.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will journey by motorcoach to fairytale Cawdor Castle, situated close to the East Highland town of Nairn. Linked with Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Cawdor has been the family home of the Thanes of Cawdor since the 14th century. The castle contains a fine example of a 16th-century tower house with elegant 18th-century additions, and while presenting a strong and severe exterior, it is a surprisingly intimate building that radiates a friendly, family atmosphere through its interior. Within the grounds of the castle, there are extensive nature trails and fine gardens.

At Cawdor Castle’s café.

From Cawdor Castle, we will move on to the battlefield of Culloden, the site of a turning point in British history and the last battle fought on British soil. This was a desperate fight that changed the history of the Highlands forever. It led to the breakdown of the clan system and paved the way for the Highland Clearances and emigration to the New World. Our Study Leader will take us across the exposed heath while describing the famous battle. We will return to the hotel by motorcoach after our field trip.

At the hotel.

At the hotel, we'll relax and enjoy a performance by a local music group who will regale us with traditional Scottish tunes. Afterwards, prepare for check-out and transfer to Pitlochry in the morning.

At the hotel.

We will board the motorcoach and transfer to Pitlochry via one of Scotland’s famous pre-historic monuments of Clava Cairns. he Clava Cairns are about 4,000 years old and were built to house the dead. The cemetery remained a sacred place in the landscape for millennia, and provides many clues to the beliefs of Bronze Age society.

At a traditional inn on the outskirts of the Cairngorms National Park.

Our transfer will continue as we enjoy a sheepdog display at Kingussie Leault Farm, before travelling onwards to Pitlochry, where we will check in at our next hotel.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We'll travel by motorcoach to Dunkeld, one of the best-preserved historic towns in Scotland. Its cathedral dominates the skyline and is over 1,400 years old, dating from a time when Celtic monks set up the base for a mission at the confluence of two rivers. Since then, it has seen many changes and turbulent times, eventually becoming the beautiful, peaceful place of worship it is today. From Dunkeld, we'll make the scenic journey to Scone Palace, the crowning place of Scottish kings. From Kenneth McAlpin, traditionally known as the first King of Scots, through Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Robert the Bruce, and Charles II – all were crowned here.

At Scone Palace.

We'll return to the hotel via the Loch of the Lowes, an unspoiled nature reserve covering 220 square acres. Here we will take some time to reflect and enjoy the beautiful woodland, or try to spot one of the many rare, indigenous species; red squirrels, roe deer, and a pair of breeding ospreys have all made this tranquil nature reserve their home.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer to Edinburgh in the morning.

At the hotel.

We'll check out and begin our transfer by motorcoach to Edinburgh, capital city of Scotland and our final destination. En route, we will visit the delightful small town of Culross, with its Merchant’s Palace and Bishop’s Study, where we'll enjoy the storied narrow streets and views across the Firth of Forth.

At Bessie’s Café in Culross.

We'll continue on to Rosslyn Chapel, a symphony of stone carving and craftsmanship now best known for its association with “The Da Vinci Code”. Founded in 1446, this chapel is widely regarded as one of the most picturesque in the United Kingdom. Upon arrival in Edinburgh, we will check into our last hotel.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll board a motorcoach for a field trip to Edinburgh Castle to discover its rich and varied history, as turbulent as it is long. The rock upon which the castle is built was fortified in the Iron Age. The oldest remaining section, St. Margaret’s Chapel, dates from the 12th century and is the oldest building in the city. Among the castle’s treasures are the Scottish regalia (crown jewels), also known as the Honours of Scotland, and the Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny used in royal coronations.

On your own to enjoy what you like.

Free time for you to discover more of Edinburgh. Your Group Leader will have suggestions on how you can make the most of your time in this historic city.

At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!